24 Comments:

To be fair - it is extremely unsafe to cycle along the main roads. Perhaps if they actually thought far enough to have a dedicated lane to cyclists it would solve the matter. Though until Dubai's Drivers calm down, that lane would probably serve as just another hard shoulder. Stick to the pavements...somewhat safer.

Spot on SD. The usual mix of sledgehammer diplomacy, total disregard for economic reality and contempt for long-suffering workers. The worse potential outcome that no-one appears to be considering is not the impact on the middle class, but the fact that the lowest paid may soon disappear. AED 4 toll each way adds up to AED 160 per month - rather a lot if your salary is AED 3000. Remove the lowest rung of the economic pyramid, and watch the rest come crumbling down.

I think it's disgusting.. I feel repulsed even at 3,400 miles away. The thing that really fries my eyes is the fact that it's a 24/7 charge. I don't see why I should be penalised for driving when there is no jams etc..

Stupid.

Whenever such a charge is schemed up, the public need an alternative or need to know that their money is being spent to improve their lives.

From what I saw in the paper, they say that "cycling is illegal". No mention of pavements or anything of the sort.

I would cycle on the pavements, cant think that the person who got stopped was riding his bike ON the road. Either way, perfect example of idiotic rules and regulations that this place is synonymous for.

SD, what a great recipe for mental breakdown!However, I kinda commend the banning of cyclists in the congested areas, and this is my conviction after living for 3 years in the realms of Bur Dubai...Well maybe DM should work on allotting special tracks for them...

how about allowing cyclists on dxb's roads? how about making flashing and tailgating ILLEGAL? maybe that will avoid accidents and cause injury to pedestrians or cyclists. i cant believe i get tailgated and flashed at 6.30AM on Al Khail even though Im driving at 120kmph. Who's in a hurry to get where at that time in the morning, when there is absolutely no traffic on Al Khail!!! and there is no concept of SAFE DISTANCE. if i applied brakes, i know either my car or me would not make it, as the 4WD or the BMW would come crashing into me. i read about cycling being illegal on 7DAYS..its absurd for ppl that want to cycle to work, and cant!

if all the expatriates who are being forced by emaar to leave or invest half a million or lot more in properties actually exit from the country, or the people who cant afford to live in uae ny longer leave the country, if all the labourers who are not being paid their AED 400 wages leave the country...really...who's going to be there to build it? so 'if your not happy, then leave' is really fine with expatriates because they can find opportunities where they can actually become citizens of another country..so they're pretty ok really. but they choose to stay here..so the problems as pointed by SD exist and everyone really that works a job here, lives the normal expatriate life (As opposed to a millionaire or a tourist) suffers this on a regular basis as do several citizens. can citizens leave the country as well? is that really the solution to this?

I think , the cyclist ban is a good idea , cause the cyclist have no idea how to drive in dubai , specially all the cyclist from the indian subcontinent , you can see them driving like drunk in central bussiness district such as nasser square and gold souq and naif road areas . And also the car drivers have no experience on how to care for the cyclist ahead of them , they cannot or do not maintain safe distance and they just kill them , hence the new law.

'specially all the cyclist from the indian subcontinent , you can see them driving like drunk in central bussiness district such as nasser square and gold souq and naif road areas'

could that be because they have no other means of transportation, and sometimes u need to swerve and drive around like ur 'drunk' bcoz there are so many lunatic drivers as u very well point out. many times, these guys are also expected to transport goods from one place to another or collect some items or deliver from cafeterias. banning cycling will do no good at all. Well..for a minute, lets forget about safe distance between vehicles n pedestrians/cyclists, how about some safe distance between vehicles themselves?

"I think , the cyclist ban is a good idea ......And also the car drivers have no experience on how to care for the cyclist ahead of them , they cannot or do not maintain safe distance and they just kill them , hence the new law."

they cannot ban the cars cause then how will the car agencies owners (locals)sell the cars , this bussiness runs in billions , millions . It is not possible just like banning smoking in public places and malls is possible but banning the sale of ciggaretes is impossible as that too runs in billions of dollars worth of bussiness .

You took the cake idea from my blog: it's so obvious. (sarcasm intended for all you rickshaw drivers out there)

Secret babe, can you please add some spice to our life in Dubai? Your culinary skills will obviously do the trick. I laugh along to whatever you write, but I'm curious to know if there's anything about Dubai that you actually like? ...well?